Choose a Theme
Deciding on the theme of your tasting will set the tone for the rest of your event and give a purpose to your planning. Is it a bridal shower, a wine dinner or just a Friday night get-together with friends and family? If you need some ideas, here are a few specialized themes to get you going:
- Morning Brunch – Sparkling wines work well, but bubbles aren’t the only things that go with brunch food favorites. Click here for more info.
- Potluck – Ask each guests to bring a bottle of wine of their choice along with a food item to match. Wine and Food Pairing Guide
- Wine and Cheese Tasting – These two have been best buds for a long time and for good reason. Here’s all you need to know about hosting your own wine and cheese tasting, including free printables! [link to subpage- see copy on Food and Wine]
- Regional Wine Tasting – Focus on wines from one designated region – like Missouri or get even more specific and highlight one AVA. Be sure to include local foods on your menu and local artists on your playlists.
- Horizontal Tasting – Taste all of the same varietal (e.g. Chardonel) from four to six different wineries. You’ll be surprised at how much they can differ from one winery to another!
- Vertical Tasting – Try different vintages of the same grape varietal from the same winery. For example: 2008 Norton, 2010 Norton, 2012 Norton and 2014 Norton. Can you taste the differences a year can make?
- Blind Wine Tasting – Brown bag the bottles or find another unique way to hide the grape varietals from your guests (aluminum foil works too). Ask your guests to guess the wine. For a more challenging tasting, try guessing the region, vintage, etc. The possibilities are endless. More info check this out this article.
- Seasonal Wine Tasting – Pumpkin, Cranberry, Plum, Gingerbread … there are lots of fun seasonal wines to experience.
- Dessert Wine Tasting – Pick wines to pair with your favorite desserts.
- Chocolate and Wine Tasting – It’s hard to find a better match than chocolate and wine. Satisfy that sweet tooth. Wine and Chocolate Pairing Guide
- Under $10 Wine Tasting – Ask guests to bring their favorite budget-friendly wine. There’s no need to break the bank to please your palate.